ARC" project launched to strengthen the regional press
The two publishing houses—W. Gassmann AG, publisher of the *Journal du Jura* in Biel, and Société Neuchâteloise de Presse SA, publisher of *L’Express* and *L’Impartial* in Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds—have launched a strategic project to join forces. There are also plans to merge parts of the editorial staff.
The two publishing houses W. Gassmann AG, publisher of the Journal du Jura in Biel, and Société Neuchâteloise de Presse SA, publisher of L'Express and L'Impartial in Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, announced the launch of the strategic "ARC" project on Monday. The project group has already been put together and the employees informed. The project is intended to ensure the continued existence and independence of the titles. However, job cuts are likely. The publishers have called in the consulting firm Naef Partners in Zurich to support and implement the project.
The two publishers want to join forces in order to be well prepared for the significant upheavals in the advertising and reader market. Changes are planned in the areas of editing, technology, logistics and marketing. As Marc Gassmann, CEO of Gassmann AG, told Werbewoche, the aim of the project is to "work together in partnership to find the best solutions".
As a first step, some of the editorial teams are to be merged. In connection with this, new editorial pages are planned that will cover international, national and sports topics. It is currently impossible to say exactly what form this will take and this will be the work of the new project group. What is certain, however, is that local and regional reporting will remain the responsibility of the individual publishing companies. The three regional newspapers involved in "ARC" will also appear in a similar layout in future. The launch is planned for the first quarter of 2007.
In terms of marketing, it is planned that the three titles will appear under a new umbrella brand in future. The umbrella brand should be designed in such a way that advertisers can also imagine something under it, said Marc Gassmann. The existing "4×4 plus" advertising combination had not developed enough appeal beyond the region. Quotidien Jurassien, which was also involved in "4×4 plus", was also invited to participate in the "ARC" project. The dossier is currently being examined by the management.
As the project is still in the start-up phase, the impact on the organizational structure and ultimately the number of employees cannot yet be estimated, Gassmann continued. However, no new financial investments are planned. The printing locations will also remain unchanged. Kathrin Fischer
The two publishers want to join forces in order to be well prepared for the significant upheavals in the advertising and reader market. Changes are planned in the areas of editing, technology, logistics and marketing. As Marc Gassmann, CEO of Gassmann AG, told Werbewoche, the aim of the project is to "work together in partnership to find the best solutions".
As a first step, some of the editorial teams are to be merged. In connection with this, new editorial pages are planned that will cover international, national and sports topics. It is currently impossible to say exactly what form this will take and this will be the work of the new project group. What is certain, however, is that local and regional reporting will remain the responsibility of the individual publishing companies. The three regional newspapers involved in "ARC" will also appear in a similar layout in future. The launch is planned for the first quarter of 2007.
In terms of marketing, it is planned that the three titles will appear under a new umbrella brand in future. The umbrella brand should be designed in such a way that advertisers can also imagine something under it, said Marc Gassmann. The existing "4×4 plus" advertising combination had not developed enough appeal beyond the region. Quotidien Jurassien, which was also involved in "4×4 plus", was also invited to participate in the "ARC" project. The dossier is currently being examined by the management.
As the project is still in the start-up phase, the impact on the organizational structure and ultimately the number of employees cannot yet be estimated, Gassmann continued. However, no new financial investments are planned. The printing locations will also remain unchanged. Kathrin Fischer
